and john kerry has really tried, has has exerted enormous efforts, trying very hard to have talks. >> right. >> unfortunately he didn't get much cooperation. >> the u.s. role in a minute. first i want to read you something from a spokesman for hamas which came, i believe, after president abbas put out the statement saying, this will be our government, it still recognizes the progress that's been made with israel, recognizes israel and wants a peaceful negotiations. but this is what the hamas spokesman said in response to that, the recognition of israel by the president of the palestinian authority, abbas, is not new. what is important is that hamas will not, and will never, recognize israel. with that statement -- >> doesn't have to. >> sorry, go ahead. >> i said it doesn't have to because you don't go to individual parties and factions and ask them to recognize countries. only countries recognize countries. the president represents palestine. we recognize israel in 1993. and with signed agreements between arafat and rabin, and that's it. and the plo and the president are doing the ne